Even Saudi Arabia is shutting down its Yemen embassy

Houthi Shiite Yemeni raise their weapons during clashes near the presidential palace in Sanaa, Yemen
AP Photo/Hani Mohammed
Saudi Arabia has suspended all work at its embassy in Yemen and evacuated its staff "due to the deterioration of the security and political situation" there, state news agency SPA reported on Friday, citing an official at the foreign ministry.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Thursday that Yemen is disintegrating after the country slipped further into chaos as the Houthi militia consolidated their grip on power.

"Yemen is collapsing before our eyes, we can't stand by and watch," Ban told the UN Security Council on Thursday. "We must do everything possible to help Yemen step back from the brink and get the political process back on track."

The Houthis have sidelined the central government and have clashed with Sunni tribesmen in Yemen, which borders oil giant Saudi Arabia.

Anti-Houthi protesters shout slogans to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the uprising that toppled former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, in Yemen's southwestern city of Taiz February 11, 2015.
Mohamed al-Sayaghi/Reuters

"We believe the situation is very dangerous. Yemen is on the brink of civil war," Jamal Benomar, the U.N. Special Envoy to Yemen, said in an interview with television channels al Arabiya and al-Hadath late on Wednesday.

Earlier on Friday, Germany and Italy said they had closed their embassies in Yemen, following other Western states worried about security as the Shi'ite Muslim Houthi militia tightens its grip on power.

A German Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said Berlin shut down its mission on Thursday and staff left on Friday.

"In the past weeks the Houthis have seized power - this is unacceptably dangerous for us and could have consequences for the region," she said "The situation is very concerning for us in Europe."

Italy also announced on Friday it had closed its embassy, citing a breakdown in security. It was withdrawing its ambassador and staff, the Foreign Ministry in Rome said.

Britain, France and the United States already closed their diplomatic missions this week as the Iranian-backed Houthis consolidated control after seizing the capital Sanna in September.

Map showing ethno-religious areas in Yemen.
Reuters

The Houthis have sidelined the central government in Yemen, which borders oil giant Saudi Arabia.

UN-backed negotiations on a political settlement continued in Sanaa on Friday. Hundreds of Yemenis gathered after prayers in the central cities of Taaz and Ibb to denounce the Houthi takeover, witnesses said.